Rocky 9th for Romo, Giants in Colorado comeback

Updated 9:42 am, Saturday, June 14, 2014

Tim Lincecum threw six innings of three-hit, two-run ball to get the Giants well on their way to victory, but Sergio Romo allowed five runs in the ninth inning for his third blown save.

Tim Lincecum threw six innings of three-hit, two-run ball to get the Giants well on their way to victory, but Sergio Romo allowed five runs in the ninth inning for his third blown save.

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

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San Francisco Giants' Michael Morse runs to third for an extra base on a Colorado Rockies error after hitting an RBI double during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach) less

San Francisco Giants' Michael Morse runs to third for an extra base on a Colorado Rockies error after hitting an RBI double during the fifth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, June 13, 2014. ... more

Photo: Beck Diefenbach, Associated Press

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San Francisco Giants' Angel Pagan, right, slides safe into home plate off a single by Hunter Pence as Colorado Rockies' catcher Wilin Rosario attempts to stop the ball during the third inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach) less

San Francisco Giants' Angel Pagan, right, slides safe into home plate off a single by Hunter Pence as Colorado Rockies' catcher Wilin Rosario attempts to stop the ball during the third inning of a baseball game ... more

Photo: Beck Diefenbach, Associated Press

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 13: Pablo Sandoval #48 of the San Francisco Giants dives into third base safe in the bottom of the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park on June 13, 2014 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) less

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 13: Pablo Sandoval #48 of the San Francisco Giants dives into third base safe in the bottom of the second inning against the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park on June 13, 2014 in San ... more

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 13: Michael Morse #38 of the San Francisco Giants slides into third base with an RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park on June 13, 2014 in San Francisco, California. Buster Posey scored on the tripe. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) less

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JUNE 13: Michael Morse #38 of the San Francisco Giants slides into third base with an RBI triple in the bottom of the fifth inning against the Colorado Rockies at AT&T Park on June 13, ... more

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

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Colorado Rockies' DJ LeMahieu hits an RBI single in the ninth inning during a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach)

Colorado Rockies' DJ LeMahieu hits an RBI single in the ninth inning during a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach)

Photo: Beck Diefenbach, Associated Press

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum fields a ground ball for an out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in San Francisco, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach) less

San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum fields a ground ball for an out during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in San Francisco, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Beck ... more

Photo: Beck Diefenbach, Associated Press

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Colorado Rockies' Justin Morneau warms up before taking the plate during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach)

Colorado Rockies' Justin Morneau warms up before taking the plate during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants in San Francisco, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach)

Photo: Beck Diefenbach, Associated Press

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Juan Gutierrez winds up during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in San Francisco, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach)

San Francisco Giants pitcher Juan Gutierrez winds up during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in San Francisco, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach)

Photo: Beck Diefenbach, Associated Press

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum (left) chats with catcher Hector Sanchez during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in San Francisco, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach) less

San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum (left) chats with catcher Hector Sanchez during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies in San Francisco, Friday, June 13, 2014. (AP ... more

Photo: Beck Diefenbach, Associated Press

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Rocky 9th for Romo, Giants in Colorado comeback

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If the faithful want to put a positive spin on Friday night's ninth inning - and that would take a stretch that even Willie McCovey could not pull off - they can note how rare the five-run disaster was.

In 2014, the Giants have gone weeks without Sergio Romo giving up leads, a Bruce Bochy strategic move backfiring or the players making terrible and costly fundamental blunders.

In a 7-4 loss to the Rockies that overshadowed an excellent Tim Lincecum start, the Giants did all that in one inning, a homely display of baseball more suited to a last-place team.

"It got away from us," Bochy said after the Giants lost for the fourth time in the past five games. "It was one of those innings; what could go wrong did go wrong."

Even for the Rockies. They already had lost starter Jorge De La Rosa after three innings with a stiff back when Troy Tulowitzki injured a leg after singling off Romo to start the ninth inning, with the Giants leading 4-2.

Justin Morneau singled before Romo got the most dangerous hitter left in the Rockies' lineup, Wilin Rosario, to fly to center. Pinch-runner Charlie Culberson tagged from second and took third, which Angel Pagan should have let him have. That run meant nothing.

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But Pagan tried to throw him out, and that allowed Morneau to take second, putting the tying run in scoring position. Bochy then decided to walk Corey Dickerson to load the bases, hoping Romo could end the game with a double play. In doing so, he put the potential go-ahead run on board, and it eventually scored.

Ryan Wheeler tied the game with a two-run single through the middle, dealing Romo his third blown save, two against Colorado.

Dickerson scored on D.J. LeMahieu's single to give the Rockies a 5-4 lead. Michael McKenry singled home an insurance run against George Kontos and, as a cherry on top for Colorado, first baseman Buster Posey and shortstop Ehire Adrianza let LeMahieu waltz home from third as they ran down McKenry after a pickoff.

Romo had been sharper lately, and the Rockies did not exactly tatter the ball, but they beat him again nonetheless.

"You've got to give them credit," Romo said. "They found a way to find holes. I've really got no explanation for it. I tried to compete. It just didn't work out."

Romo and company squandered what would have been a Lincecum win in his final start before he turns 30 on Sunday. His performance was the true positive for the Giants.

He looked like a much younger Lincecum as he lit up the radar gun, striking out Rosario with a 94-mph fastball in the second inning and Tulowitzki at 92 in the sixth. Both hitters went down looking on corner pitches.

Lincecum has searched diligently, but ineffectively, for a mechanical fix that could restore some consistency in his command. He had that in abundance Friday, and the velocity improved with his location because his front shoulder was not flying open.

Lincecum would have had consecutive wins for the first time all year had the Giants held their 4-2 lead in the ninth. He was happy with his effort but not ready to declare that the 30-year-old Timmy will look like the 25-year-old model next time out.

"I'm going to take it as it comes," he said. "I'm not trying to get too far ahead and get excited about a good start. I'm just going to go out and prepare the same way and hope I get the same results next time."

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